gallows

Signification (Anglais)

Noun

1. Wooden framework on which persons are put to death by hanging.
2. (colloquial,obsolete) A wretch who deserves to be hanged.
3. (obsolete) The rest for the tympan when raised.
4. (colloquial,obsolete) Suspenders; braces.
5. Any contrivance with posts and crossbeam for suspending objects.
6. The main frame of a beam engine.

Verb

third-person singular simple present indicative of gallow

Concepts

gibet

potence

échafaud

Prononcé comme (IPA)

/ˈɡæləʊz/

Étymologie (Anglais)

From Middle English galwes, galewes, plural of galwe, galowe, from Old English gealga, from Proto-West Germanic *galgō, from Proto-Germanic *galgô, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰalgʰ-, *ǵʰalg- (“long switch, rod, shaft, pole, perch”). The plural construction probably refers to the vertical and horizontal beams.
Compare West Frisian galge, Dutch galg, German Galgen, Danish galge, Icelandic gálgi.
For the pronunciation /ˈɡæləs/, compare bellows, bodice.